Increased Labral Height Is Associated With Greater Distractive Stability of the Hip

To examine the relationship of labral height measured on magnetic resonance imaging and resistance to axial distraction in patients with cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome.

Patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for FAI syndrome between March 2020 and August 2020 were enrolled in the study traction protocol. Before any operative instrumentation, fluoroscopic images were taken of the native hip joint at 12.5-lb intervals between 0 and 100 lbs of axial traction on a postless traction table. Distraction was calculated as the difference between the total joint space at each traction interval and the baseline joint space. Labral height was measured on magnetic resonance imaging sagittal reformats at approximately 1:30 on the acetabular clockface by a musculoskeletal fellowship-trained radiologist blinded to the traction data. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t tests, Pearson χ² tests, and Fisher exact tests were utilized in analysis.

Forty-three hips in 42 patients were included. Labral height was <6 mm in 19 (44%) patients and ≥6 mm in 24 (56%) patients. No statistically significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, alpha angle, Tönnis grade, lateral center edge angle, Beighton score, or presence of labral tears were observed between patients with <6 and ≥6 mm of labral height (P > .05). A greater percentage of patients with a labral height <6 mm broke their suction seal relative to patients with a labral height of ≥6 mm at 62.5 lbs (42% vs 4%; P = .003) and 100 lbs (95% vs 67%; P = .027).

Anterosuperior labral height ≥6 mm is associated with increased resistance to axial distraction on an examination under anesthesia in patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for FAI syndrome.

Level III, retrospective cohort study.